Winterizing the farm — with free printable checklist

Cold weather is once again on our doorstep. Farmers and homesteaders alike are racing to finish their winter preparations before the first snowflakes fly. We have gardens to put to bed, livestock to prepare and equipment to get ready for the long season ahead of us. If you’re new to farming or homesteading, the list of chores for winterization can seem overwhelming, or perhaps you’re not sure exactly what needs to be done. To help you on your way, I’ve assembled some guidelines here, along with a number of links from my fellow bloggers over at the Homestead Bloggers’ Network. And be sure to print out the “Winterizing Your Farm” checklist from the link below!

Several feet of snow, driving winds and bitter cold can make life bothersome for just about anyone, but if you’re a homesteader or farmer the day to day management of animals and property becomes downright arduous. Which is why it is critical to plan ahead and prepare for the long winter months ahead.

Each homestead and farm is as unique as the people who manage it, so the challenges that you face may be very different from those that the next guy (or gal) will have to cope with. The suggestions I’ve compiled for you below are by no means comprehensive, but hopefully they will help to steer you in the right direction, generate some ideas and help you to brainstorm how you might best prepare your homestead or farm for winter. And if you still find yourself in doubt, there are a number of links at the end of each category–go see what other homesteaders are doing to get their farms ready for the winter ahead!

Please feel free to download a copy of the (Winterizing the Farm) checklist I’ve assembled, print it out and get to work!

Make a list

Start by taking a walk around your farm with a notepad in hand. Write down everything you see that needs to be done to put your farm to bed for winter, and to prepare any livestock, equipment, and your homestead for the cold.

If you are farming with a partner–such as a spouse or significant other–you might consider taking this tour together. Typically men and women’s views of what should be done will differ somewhat, since we each tend to come at farming from different angles.

My husband, Keith, and I have fallen into somewhat traditional roles on our farm–I manage the household, care for the children, the livestock, and tend the garden; while Keith constructs sheds and buildings, performs maintenance on the truck, tractor and other equipment, and wields the power-tools and chainsaw that I am reluctant to handle. So while I am focused on putting the garden to bed, he is busy working on the tractor–etc.

Organize your list & delegate

This may seem trivial, but I’ve found that a bit of organization can save me from feeling overwhelmed when the list of chores seems daunting. Because we’re creating a diversified farm, I have divided it up into different categories, for example: the garden, the apiary, the livestock, the homestead, etc. And so when I make plans I always group various projects, supply lists, investments, etc. into the category that it falls in. But that’s just what works for me–perhaps you have your own method of organizing–feel free to share in the comments section below.

It can be difficult to relinquish control; I admit freely that this is something I struggle with. I want to see a job done well, and I know that another person may not do the task the way I might; that’s not to say that that person’s method is wrong, it just doesn’t match the picture in my mind. But that’s my problem and not theirs–if everything on the list is to be accomplished in time, it’s important to accept help where you can get it. Assess the list, determine which chores you must absolutely do yourself and which can be done by another person, and then delegate those chores accordingly.

Onto the winter preparations!

The garden

Whether you’re a homesteader with a garden just for your family, or a farmer that maintains a 1-acre market garden feeding a 20-family CSA, the tasks are generally the same.

Remove and drain irrigating equipment, store away out of the elements.

Sow fall crops (if you grow crops for winter harvesting, such as brassicas or leafy greens like kale, mizuna, claytonia, spinach and lettuces–you would sow these in August; but garlic can be sown as late as November depending on where you are located).

Sow cover crops like oats or winter rye to protect the soil throughout the winter.

Perform a soil test and add necessary amendments.

Gather and store any garden tools or other implements (cleaning your tools before storing them helps to increase their lifespan).

The apiary

If you’re so lucky (and of course I’m admittedly biased-I believe every farm and homestead should have at least 2 beehives!) as to have an apiary on your homestead or farm–no matter if that apiary consists of 2 hives or 20–you’ll need to ensure that your girls are well prepared for their long incarceration.

Summer equipment–like honey supers, Queen excluders and pollen traps should be removed and stored (be sure to store your drawn honeycombs in a way that mice cannot get at them! I speak from experience when I say that rodents can decimate your beautiful combs. I recommend either storing them in plastic bins, or keeping them in the wooden bee-boxes, but settle those boxes in an inverted telescoping cover, stacked one box on top of the other, and topped off with another telescoping cover).

It’s optional, but I recommend–especially if you live in an area that receives lots of snow–to have an upper entrance on the hive so that air can continue to circulate, and the bees can emerge for cleansing flights even if the lower entrance should become blocked by snow.

Wrap hives according to the local practices (here in Maine beekeepers typically use roofing paper – aka: “tar” paper).

Ensure hives are protected from driving winds–either you’ve located the apiary against a natural wind-buffer such as a grove of conifer trees or a building, or you will want to stack bales of hay around three sides of the hives, leaving the southern side open.

Got livestock?

Not only do you need to ensure the animals and their housing is in order, but you also need to have the foresight to plan for winter management of those animals. Snow, ice, and bitter cold and wind make all your chores more difficult, so think ahead and prepare accordingly!

Ensure all of your animals are healthy, their hooves and feet are well cared for, and that they are all up-to-date on their immunizations.

Service equipment

Before the snow starts to fly make sure your equipment is ready to go. There’s nothing worse than facing a foot of snow only to realize that there’s a problem with your plow-truck!

Locate shovels and snow-scoops and have at the ready.

Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and tractors.

Add anti-freeze fluid if needed.

Check tires.

Put your plow on before the first snow fall.

The homestead

It’s a wonderful feeling when the snow is falling outside, the critters are bedded down for the night, and inside the homestead is warm and snugly. Be sure to double check the following just to make sure you’re well prepared.

Check your heat-source and have it serviced.

If you use a woodstove or other such wood-burning device–inspect the chimney or flue–and clean it.

Weather-strip and caulk around exterior doors and windows, along with the openings for pipes, wires, vents, and ducts.

Inside the house, clean heat register, vents and duct openings to keep them free from dust, lint, and pet hair.

Protect exposed pipes to prevent frozen pipes in January.

Be sure to have a minimum of 3-days’ worth of food and water on hand in case of an emergency situation (most homesteaders do this anyway).

Gather your winter survival equipment (ie-flashlights, radio, etc.) and store them where they are readily accessible.

Pull out the family’s winter gear and assess it–has anybody outgrown their boots or jackets? Do all of the mittens have matching mates? Make sure everyone has proper clothing before the first snow falls because I can just about guarantee that kids are going to want to play in it (and if you’re like me, the adults may just want to play too!).

Wake-up call!

Last weekend Maine saw the first nor’easter of the season, and some parts of the state received a sizable amount of snow. Here at Runamuk Acres we were fortunate to get less than an inch, and that was gone by the time the sun came up the next morning. My plan had been to have the farm put to bed and ready for the winter by Thanksgiving–next year I think I will strive to have everything done before Halloween!

If you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments section–likewise if you have a tip or suggestion that you think new farmers and homesteaders aught to be aware of as they prepare for winter. We’re all at different stages in our pursuit for a more self-sufficient life, but we’re all in it together!

About Samantha Burns

Maine blogger, beekeeper and farmer. Follow along with my many misadventures in the pursuit of a more sustainable life. Find out how I am advocating for local food in my community and working to promote pollinator conservation here in the state of Maine. Every day is an adventure!

Samantha, This is a great article. You have some really good tips. I look forward to reading your book. I want to add bee hives to the farm next year. We have so many wild honey bees, but I would like the honey and the wax. Thanks for the shout out!

Your blogger & farmer!

I'm Samantha Burns: Maine beekeeper, farmer and blogger. Follow along with my adventures in the pursuit of a more sustainable life. Find out how I am advocating for local food in my community and working to promote pollinator conservation here in the state of Maine. Every day is an adventure!

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